Chinese Mao Zedong Circular Lapel Pin

Golden sunburst frames a capped face with a small red star.

This Mao Zedong circular lapel pin is from China, and dates to the 20th century. Propaganda posters of the era generally pictured a utopian society, with smiling farmers, brave soldiers and happy people gathered around Mao, who was cast as a benevolent father and wise teacher. Set in a dark red center, a face in a soft cap with a red star looks slightly off the front. A broad golden ring of tight radiating ridges surrounds it. The collar carries red tabs. It is 1.5 inches in diameter.

All that radiance, and the sunburst still manages to look tidy.